Furniture



April 11, 1961 M. BORENSTEIN FURNITURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1958 FIE-.51

INVENTOR. Borensfein ATTORNEY Mart/n United States Patent 9 FURNITURE Martin Borenstein, 177 Florence Ave., Oakland, Calif.

Filed Sept. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 760,805

6 Claims. (Cl. -37) This invention relates to contemporary furniture, particularly to furniture having upholstered sections which can be adjusted into comfortable lounging positions, contour positions or flattened to form a comfortable full length bed.

The converting of a sofa or the like into a bed, or the converting of a love seat into a bed is not basically new, but it is well-recognized that in the past such conversions have required compromises, both with respect to the comfort as a piece of sitting furniture and comfort as a bed and with respect to the design of the furniture. Formerly conversions were thought to require easy-operating, foldout mechanisms which not only required room for housing the mechanisms but which were bulky and ungainly in their closed position. As a matter of design such requirements have practically ruled out the possibility of conversions in truly contemporary furniture. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a piece of contemporary furniture which is easily converted into a comfortable full length bed without complicated mechanisms, counterweights, or other similar equipment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide contemporary furniture where both the seat and the back are made up of uniform, horizontal, integrated upholstered sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a furniture piece having an integrated back section which may be tilted to any desired level from substantially vertical to horizontal, but where in so doing the seating depth is shortened as the back approaches the vertical, while the seating depth increases as the back is lowered in the posiably wood, so as to present uniform pressure resistance throughout the entire area when the back and seat are lowered to the flat position as a bed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a contemporary furniture piece having upholstered horizontal uniform segments forming both the seat and the back,

with the segments of the seat joined only along the upholstered upper top edge of the abutting faces and the .back units being joined only along the upholstered outer top edge of the abutting faces.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicty, economy, and ease of manufacture, also such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will fully appear and as are inherently possessed by the device and the invention described herein. 7

. Invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the same is merely illustrative of the invention and that the invention is capable of modification and change, and comprehends other details of construction .without de- 2,978,710 Patented Apr. 11, 1961 parting from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sofa with the seat thereof flat and the back thereof in the substantially vertical adjusted positon;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the sofa shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of'the sofa;

Figure 4 is a perspective, fragmentary, enlarged view showing the construction of the pivoting hinge joining the lower back section to the rear seat section and also showing the typical construction of each of the upholstered sectional members;

Figure 5 shows the sofa lowered to the position for use as a bed, in side elevation;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line VI-VI of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a love seat with its associated bench with the upholstered sectional members shown in contour position, having the front section of the seat elevated at an angle and abutting the elevated rear section of the bench;

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the love seat portion only of Figure 7, in the contour adjusted in position; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the frame for the bench shown in Figure 7.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like elements in the several views, and with special reference to sheet 1 of the drawings, the furniture of the present invention which is shown in completed form in Figure 1, is of a very simple but direct construction. Fundamentally it begins with a rectangular base frame 10 composed of a pair of side rails 11 and 12 and cross braces 14 and 15, being the forward and rear braces respectively. In order to provide the proper clearance for floor cleaning and other purposes, cross braces 14 and 15 are set back from the ends of the side rails 11 and 12. Four legs 16 support the base frame and these are preferably comparatively short legs to bringthe finished furniture piece closer to the floor level, althoughit is recognized that the legs may be of any desired length. Along the top of each side rail 11 and 12 there is positioned a spacer and supporting block 17 which is of a calculated height and is the same width as the width of the side rails 11 and 12. It is to be noted that the spacer blocks 17 are set back from the front of the frame and continue rearwardly to a point past the middle thereof. The block members 17 are firmly secured to their respective side rails 11 and 12 and appear as being integral therewith. Directly in front of the blocks 17 is a transverse bar member 18 which has a thickness precisely the same as the height of the blocks 17, so that when the same is in the flat position as shown in Figures 2 and 5, it forms a level, horizontal continuation forwardly thereof. By having the rear face of the transverse bar 18 in juxtaposition with the ends of the blocks 17, it will be observed that the bar 18 is supported at its ends by the side rails 11 and 12 and throughout its entire length its lateral position is maintained by the forward transverse rail 14. The bar member 18 has a sufficient width to provide an altitude for purposes hereinafter described. The bar 18 is secured to the forward ends of the side rails 11 and 12 on the top surface thereof, by means of hinges 20 in such a manner that the bar 18 may be pivoted about the hinges 20 about to the elevated position with the top face thereof substantially at right angles to the top surface of the side rails 11 and 12.

There are two sets of integrated upholstered cushions .21 1 andZlb and 22a andl b- Each of th se cushignsis.

madein identical form with identical height, width and length. Each is formed on a solid base -23 which is preferably wood the width and length required for the finished cushion. To the solid base 23' in each instance is secured aforhiedplastic slab 24 'which is'durable, resilient, fire and water resistant and nonpacking, such ssessed poly urethane. This remarkable nia'teriabmakesthis formof furniture possible inasmuch as it does: not permanently change shape, regardless ofthe wear"or treatment, or pressure in a constantly recurring single spot. It isresilient without being actively resistant and permits the use of a solid base 23so that both the positioning of the individual cushions 21a, 21b, 22a and 22b, andthis material itself, combine to establish the proper contour for correct posture and relaxation of the user. Each of the cushion units is covered 'with'a suitable covering material or fabric '25 and each pair-of cushions, i.e.,21a and 21b, and 22a and 22b, is articulated by having the fabric of each pair joined at the'outer top edge 26 of the abutting faces. The juncture at the top adjacent edges of the covering permits the cushions to pivot about this scam with substantial articulation but without separating or pulling apart.

The articulated cushions 21a and 21b forming the seat portion are retained in position by securing the. base 23o'f cushion section 21b through the side rails 11 and 12 and through the spacers 17 by'means of concealedbolts 27, or in any other suitable manner. This means that seat cushion section 21a has no rigid attachment to the furniture frame except indirectly through the articulating edge 26, which joins it to the cushion section'-21 b'throughout its entire length; This also means that seat cushion section 2111 inits normal position is-horizontally positioned in line -with its articulated section 21b, and restspartly on the spacer block 17 and on the block; or transverse bar 18 when it is in the lower positionshown in Figure 2.

It is apparent that when the transverse bar 18 is raised on its hinges 20 we position-shown in Figure 8, the cushion portion 21a will be elevatedtoward itsforward edge28 and pivoted about the articulating edge 26 as shown in Figure 8. In this'position, the weight of the seated human body is primarily exerted in the force line indicated by the arrow 30. Because of this the transverse bar 18will'not be inadvertently knocked over from its raisedposition to its'loweredposition, but will actually require an intentional change ofpositionto accomplish the rotation.

The back of the furniture comprisesaframe generally designated as 31, which has a'pair'of side members 32 and top and bottom members 33 and 34, respectively. A

- bracket 35 is secured adjacent the top edge of the back cushion member 22 at each side as'shown in Figure 6, and this bracket is in turn pivotally connected by means of pivot pins 36 to the'side members 32 of the'back frame 31. At eitherside the lower end of the side frame members 32, a-series of retaining notches 37 are provided forindividiial engagement with-retaining pin 38 secured horizontally at either side on the inner face of the side rails 11 and 12"o'f the"frame 10. It is apparent that notched plates 'and/ or racks may be attached to the frame-members 32 and'us'e'd-inplace of the notches 37. Itjis equally apparentthat the tilt of the back is adjustedsimilarly to the old fashioned Morris'chair, only notransverse leaning bar is required and the leverage-is quite different. However, a distinctive feature or the back adjustmentis that'the more the back approaches the'vertical the depthofthe seat becomes'less and as the back is lowered or adjusted downwardly the seat depth becomes longer. This is because-of the fact that cushion sections 21b and 22a arejoinedby pivotbars 4i) ateach'endtsee Figure4); The pivot=bars40 are secured to concealed angle irons 42 in fixedpo'sition, within the cushion members 'ZZa-atieither side. The" pivot bar 4015'" securedabo've thehalfway point of the vertical height "of the cushion'zza. Theoth'erejuds of'th'e pivot bars 40 are pivotally secured to similar angle irons 43 concealed within the cushion member 21b. The pivot point 44 is preferably located at the same height as the bar 40 is fixed on the angle iron 43 and is set inwardly a similar distance so that as the cushion member 22a moves from the flat or horizontal position toward the vertical position, it will pass over and cover the rear edge 45 of the cushion member 21b.

It will be observed that because of the nature of these linkages, i.e., the pivots 36 andthe pivots 44 plus the fixed positionof cushion member 21b, as the back 31 is lowered on its series of notches 36 the curvature effected by the articulation of the cushion members 22a and 2212 increases in a rearwardly direction and the depth of the seat portion increases.

In the operation of the chair or sofa, it is to be understood that when the cushion members 21a and 21b are in the fiat position or horizontal position, the back will not be straight, but will be curved to fit the human back in a position of rest with proper support at the base of the spine; For lounging and relaxing. purposes the curvature of'theback may be increased rearwardly by lowering the back frame 31 on its notches 37. As before indicated, byraisi'ng the transverse bar member 1810i! its hinges 20 and elevating the cushion member 21a adjacent its forward edge 28, the furniture can be converted into a contour'p'iece for correct posture and relaxation;

from the. slots 37 in the back'31, the articulated cushion In addition, by lowering the transverse bar member 18"to-the flat position and by disengaging the pin 38 members 22a and 22b can be lowered to theho'rizontal position shown in Figure 5. In so doing, the'backfrar'ne 31'which has a thicknessprecisely that-of the height of the spacer member 17 will come to rest on the rear cross brace 15; and its lower portion and lower frame member 34 willbear upwardly against the solid under surface of the cushion member 21b, was to give cantile'ver support for the cushion section'2 2b. In this manner all of the cushion members 21a, 21b,,22aand22b will lie in'the same horizontal'plane and all will' be direc'tly connected together so that there is no possibility of separation or openings between them. A six foot y or six and one-half foot sofa can thusbeconverted immediatelyin'to' a double full length bed with thesides of the bed being cushion members 2111 and 22b. 7 Since both of these marginal cushion members are movable upwardly they are readily adapted for tucking in sheets andblankets thereunder and between the frame 10 and'holding the same in position.

A single'bed may be made out of a'ehaii" or leve seat of this same construction See Figure 7 but in the bed position withthe integrated cushion members being in a transverse position ratherlthan' in a longitudinal position as indicated in Figure 5 using the furniture in the form of a sofa. The single bed, howevenrequirestheaddition of abench or ottoman (see Figure 9) which is'coristruted precisely like the seat portion of the chair or sofa, only modified as to dimensions to suit-the purpose.

With reference to Figure 9, the bench or ottoman is constructed of side rails 110 with front and rear transverse rails 111 and 112, respectively, which are set inwardly of the frameas before described. The frame is supported on suitable legs114 which obviously should be the sameheight from the floor level as the chair member with whichit' is to be associated. The frame is'provided with thesarnepairof spacer-members 115 and. a transverse bar 116 capable of; being raised and lowered by pivoting on hinges-117. The bench 'or ottoman has'only two articulated cushions 120a and 12011 with cushion member 1211b secured to the frame by concealed bolts 127 in'the' -same manner as heretofore described. In all respectsthecushions 120a'and120b are constructed and covered' and-joinedprecisely'as before described for cushions-"212z and 21b.

When the transverse bar member 116 is raised to elevate the cushion member 120a and this is pushed up to abut the corresponding raised front edge of the chair 20a, it is apparent that there is an elongated, contour, lounging furniture arrangement (see Figure 7). Each of these may be lowered in the manner heretofore described to the horizontal position to form a bed which is the width of the chair and bench or ottoman members and the length 'of the six contiguous transverse cushion members.

I claim:

1. Furniture comprising in combination a base, a hinged transverse member mounted at the forward edge of said base having a raised and a lowered position, blocks at either side of said base of even height with said transverse member in the lowered position, a back frame adjustably supported on said base adjacent its lower edge and uniform transverse upholstered seat and back members, each of the same size and form with a solid back and covering, a seat comprising two such members joined together by the covering along the top marginal edge of the abutting faces with the rear member only being secured to said base, and a back comprising two such members joined by the covering along the top marginal edge of the abutting faces, the lower member being pivotally connected to the back frame and to the fixed seat member for positioning movement therewith.

2. Furniture comprising in combination a base having supporting legs, a hinged transverse member mounted at the forward edge of said base having a raised and a lowered position, blocks at either side of said base of even height with said transverse member in the lowered position, an open back frame adjustably supported on said base adjacent its lower edge and uniform transverse seat and back members each of the same size and form with a solid back, foamed resilient plastic padding and covering providing permanent fully upholstered members, a seat comprising two such members joined together by the covering along the top marginal edge of the abutting faces with the rear member only being secured to said base, and a back comprising two such members joined by the covering along the top marginal edge of the abutting faces, the lower member being pivotally connected to the back frame and to the fixed seat member for positioning movement therewith.

3. Furniture comprising in combination a base having supporting legs, a hinged transverse member mounted at the forward edge of said base having a raised and a lowered position, blocks at either side of said base of even height with said transverse member in the lowered position, an open back frame adjustably supported on said base adjacent its lower edge and uniform transverse seat and back members each of the same size and form with a solid back, foamed resilient plastic padding and covering providing permanent fully upholstered members, a seat comprising two such members joined together by the covering along the top marginal edge of the abutting faces with the rear member only being secured to said base, and a back comprising two such members joined by the covering along the top marginal edge of the abutting faces, the lower member being pivotally connected to the back frame and to the fixed seat member above the center line of the height thereof for positioning movement therewith.

4. Furniture comprising in combination a base having supporting legs and front and rear transverse rails, a hinged transverse member mounted on said base at the forward edge thereof having a raised and a lowered position, blocks at either side of said base of even height with said transverse member in the lowered position, an open back frame adjustably supported on said base adjacent its lower edge and uniform transverse seat and back members each of the same size and form with a solid back, foamed resilient padding and covering providing permanent fully upholstered members, a seat comprising two such members joined together by the covering along the top marginal edge of the abutting faces with the rear member only being secured to said base, and a back comprising two such members joined by the covering along the top marginal edge of the abutting faces, the lower member being pivotally connected to the back frame and to the fixed seat member above the center line of the height thereof for positioning movement therewith.

5. An article of furniture comprising in combination a base having supporting legs, a transverse support member hingedly mounted on said base at the forward edge thereof having a raised and lowered position, blocks mounted oneither side of said base of even height with said transverse support member in its lowered position, and a pair of uniform transverse upholstered seat members each having a solid hacking, resilient interior and covering, said seat members being joined by the said covering along the top marginal edge of their abutting face, the rear seat member only being secured to the said base on said blocks, with the front member being free to assume the support of said transverse support member in either the raised or lowered position.

6. An article of furniture comprising a combination a base having supporting legs, a transverse support member hingedly mounted on said base at the forward edge thereof having a raised and lowered position, blocks mounted on either side of said base of even height with said transverse support member in its lowered position, and a plurality of uniform transverse upholstered seat members each having a solid backing, resilient interior and covering, said seat members being joined by the said covering along the top marginal edge of their abutting face, the seat member next to the front member only being secured to the said base on said blocks, with the front member being free to assume the support of said transverse support member in either the raised or lowered position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 116,558 Ficks Sept. 12, 1939 459,564 Hale Sept. 15, 1891 524,716 Hackman Aug. 21, 1894 565,287 Logsdon Aug. 4, 1896 935,861 Pudrith Oct. 5, 1909 1,549,289 Bradley Aug. 11, 1925 1,836,315 Druyun Dec. 15, 1931 2,599,396 Kronheim June 3, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,431 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1871 

